Shelby County ad hoc committee agrees to refine proposal seeking moratorium and document access for housing-related tax pilots

A pre-meeting of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners’ Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes Ad Hoc Committee on 11/13/2024 reviewed a proposed resolution asking pilot-granting entities to pause housing-related tax abatement agreements while the county examines their performance and accountability. The committee agreed to send a combined, amended draft to the full ad hoc committee for a vote at the committee’s next regular meeting.

The resolution under discussion would ask boards that authorize pilot (payment-in-lieu-of-tax) agreements involving housing to pause new grants and extensions during a county review. Administrator Javier Bailey, the staff member leading the discussion, told the committee that the assessor’s office can compel records under state law: “we can demand, according to 67 5 3 0 1 and 6 0 1, we can demand …” Bailey said the assessor’s team is already assembling documents and performing site visits on hundreds of pilot agreements.

The committee debated scope and wording. Several members pressed to cover…